Astragalus polysaccharides restore neutrophil functions and gut microbiota homeostasis in dairy cows with subclinical ketosis.

Subclinical ketosis (SCK) in periparturient cows is associated with gut microbiota dysbiosis and energy metabolism disorders. Although in vitro studies show that free fatty acids (FFA) and BHB impair polymorphonuclear neutrophil (PMN) functions-potentially causing secondary infections-limited in vivo evidence exists. Astragalus polysaccharides (APS) modulate metabolism, immunity, and gut microbiota, but their effects on PMN functions and gut microbiota in SCK cows remain unclear.

Non-rigid image-volume registration for human livers in laparoscopic surgery.

Background: The fusion of intraoperative 2D laparoscopic images with preoperative 3D scans offers significant advantages in minimally invasive surgery, such as improved spatial understanding and enhanced navigation. This study aims to enable augmented reality for deformable organs through accurate 2D-3D registration. However, achieving real-time and precise alignment remains a major challenge due to organ deformation, occlusion, and the difficulty of estimating camera parameters from monocular images.

Bifunctional artificial sodium polysulfide mediators boosting the sodium storage performance of the FeO anode.

Artificially incorporating sodium polysulfides into FeO@rGO anodes enables formation of uniformly dispersed CuS nanocrystals, acting as reversible redox-active sites to enhance capacity and as kinetically favourable interparticle bridges to accelerate Na diffusion. This work demonstrates a simple strategy for interparticle engineering in sodium-ion batteries using multifunctional polysulfide mediators.

MDCK cell line expressing H9N2 avian influenza virus NS1 protein promotes replication of the NS1 gene truncation virus.

H9N2 subtype avian influenza virus (AIV) remains a major threat to poultry industry. Our previously developed live-attenuated vaccine candidate rTX-NS1-128(mut) demonstrated promising immunogenicity, but its truncated NS1 gene reduced replication in MDCK cells relative to the parental rTX strain. In this study, we engineered an MDCK derived cell line (2G8D5) to enhance replication of interferon-sensitive AIV candidates.

Rapid self-assembled electroactive biohybrid cathode-driven electron transfer for enhanced uranium bioremediation.

Efficient and eco-friendly purification of uranium-bearing wastewater is essential for the safety of the water ecosystem and sustainable development of the nuclear energy industry. Although bioelectrochemical systems show great prospect for uranium bioremediation, the uranium removal efficiency is often limited by the ineffective quality of biofilm formation and unsatisfactory electron transfer. Here we propose a rapid self-assembled biofilm formation strategy to construct a sulfate-reducing bacteria-carbon cloth biohybrid cathode (CF-PQ7) modified with cotton-derived carbon fibers for the simultaneous removal of uranium and sulfate.

SciToolAgent: a knowledge-graph-driven scientific agent for multitool integration.

Scientific research increasingly relies on specialized computational tools, yet effectively utilizing these tools requires substantial domain expertise. While large language models show promise in tool automation, they struggle to seamlessly integrate and orchestrate multiple tools for complex scientific workflows. Here we present SciToolAgent, a large language model-powered agent that automates hundreds of scientific tools across biology, chemistry and materials science.

Clinical Outcomes of Acute Pancreatitis in Patients with Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Fatty Liver Disease (MAFLD): A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Background: Metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) is being increasingly identified in patients with acute pancreatitis (AP). However, their prognostic significance remains debatable.

Objective: We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to examine the association between MAFLD and the clinical outcomes of AP.

Alteration of the gut microbiota in children following SARS- CoV-2 infection in 2021 and 2022 pandemics.

Background: Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has caused significant mortality and morbidity worldwide. Although the role of intestinal microbiota in adults with SARS-CoV-2 infection has been studied, limited research exists on children. This study was performed to investigate the clinical significance and association of intestinal microbiota composition in children with SARS-CoV-2 infection during the 2021 and 2022 pandemic waves in Taiwan.

Ginsenoside Rh2-Liposome Potentiate Vaccine Immunity through Enhanced MHC‑I Presentation.

This study aimed to evaluate the immune-enhancing efficacy and mechanism of liposome-Rh2 as a novel vaccine adjuvant. By using an integrated preparation strategy that combined ethanol injection with high-pressure homogenization, we successfully fabricated a stable liposome-Rh2 adjuvant. Structural characterization revealed a well-defined spherical architecture with uniform particle distribution (PDI < 0.

Rare Primary Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma Confined to Bone Marrow: Features and Prognosis.

Background: Primary bone marrow diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (PBM-DLBCL) represents an uncommon yet clinically aggressive hematologic malignancy. Despite its significant clinical impact, this entity lacks standardized diagnostic criteria in current WHO classifications.

Methods: We performed a retrospective analysis of 55 PBM-DLBCL cases from our institutional database and published literature (2001-2022) to characterize disease features and identify prognostic factors, with particular focus on assessing how different treatment regimens influence therapeutic efficacy and long-term outcomes.

How does protein aggregate structure affect mechanisms of disaggregation?

Protein misfolding and aggregation underpin numerous pathological conditions, including Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, and Huntington's diseases. Within cells, the competition between protein folding and misfolding-driven aggregation necessitates intricate quality control systems known collectively as the proteostasis network, with molecular chaperones playing central roles. Critical gaps remain in our understanding of why certain protein aggregates are amenable to efficient chaperone-mediated disassembly, while others resist such intervention.

Identification EXOSC4 as a novel autoantigen of interstitial lung disease in rheumatoid arthritis.

Background: Interstitial lung disease (ILD) is a common and severe comorbidity of rheumatoid arthritis (RA), yet reliable diagnostic biomarkers remain lacking. Alveolar type II (ATII) cells are widely recognized to play a key role in the pathogenesis of ILD. This study first aimed to screen and validate potential autoantigens involved in RA-ILD using ATII cells.

Remodeling the Physicochemical and Pharmacokinetic Properties of PROTAC via Lipid Nanodisks for Cancer Therapy.

Proteolysis targeting chimera (PROTAC), as an emerging approach for target protein degradation based on the intracellular ubiquitin-protease system, is characterized by catalytic and reusability over traditional inhibitors. However, PROTACs are fraught with pharmacokinetic dangers due to poor water solubility and membrane permeability, further posing a huge challenge to the clinical potential. Herein, a nanodelivery system is developed that is elaborately decorated with prodrugs to improve the physicochemical properties and therapeutic efficacy of PROTAC.

Preoperative Multifrequency MR Elastography for Stratifying Wnt/β-Catenin Pathway and Microvascular Invasion Phenotypes in Hepatocellular Carcinoma.

Background: The Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway and microvascular invasion (MVI) are associated with the prognosis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

Purpose: To evaluate the Wnt/β-catenin pathway and MVI states using preoperative MR elastography (MRE).

Study Type: Prospective.

Pop Culture in the Classroom: Associations with Student Learning Outcomes and the Underlying Psychological Mechanisms.

As an emerging pedagogical strategy, the integration of pop culture into university classrooms has gained increasing attention. This study employs a quasi-experimental design to investigate the potential benefits and psychological mechanisms of incorporating pop culture into higher education curricula. Data were collected from 511 students across two courses and four class sections through both survey responses and in-class essay evaluations.

Boric Acid-Catalyzed Synthesis: A scalable strategy for High-Yield and Tunable red fluorescent carbon dots.

Red fluorescent carbon dots (RCDs) have garnered significant attention in the fields of lighting and bioimaging due to their exceptional optical properties and favorable biocompatibility. However, existing synthesis strategies often involve complex processes and rely on expensive, toxic polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, which fundamentally limit their yield and applicability. In this study, RCDs with a high quantum yield of 45 % were synthesized via a one-step solvothermal method using citric acid and urea as precursors, with boric acid as a catalyst.

A dynamic adaptive readout method for readout electronics of superconducting quantum computing.

Real-time control and readout are pivotal in superconducting quantum computing, given the imperative for numerous algorithms to perform quantum operations as much as possible within the qubit coherent time. Here, we specifically address the qubit readout, recognized as the most time-consuming operation within our experimental platform, and propose a dynamic adaptive readout method (DARM) to improve the performance of qubit readout. In contrast to a standard readout method (SRM) employing Gaussian Naïve Bayes as a discriminator, the DARM can demonstrate a 22.

Regulation of sharp wave-ripples by cholecystokinin-expressing interneurons and parvalbumin-expressing basket cells in the hippocampal CA3 region.

To explore the individual and interactive effects of the interneurons cholecystokinin-expressing interneurons (CCKs) and parvalbumin-expressing basket cells (BCs) on sharp wave-ripples (SWR) and the underlying mechanisms, we constructed a mathematical model of the hippocampal CA3 network. By modulating the activity of CCKs and BCs, it was verified that CCKs inhibit the generation of SWR, while the activity of BCs affects the occurrence of SWR. Additionally, it was postulated that CCKs exert an influence on SWR through a direct mechanism, wherein CCKs directly modulate pyramidal cells (PCs).

Research progress on Nrf2 intervention in the treatment of diabetic retinopathy.

Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is a primary cause of vision loss among individuals with diabetes and represents the most prevalent microvascular complication of diabetes mellitus. Its pathophysiological mechanisms involve processes such as oxidative stress, chronic inflammation, cell apoptosis, and angiogenesis. As a core transcription factor in the antioxidant response, Nrf2 upregulates the expression of antioxidant genes through the Keap1-Nrf2-ARE pathway, hence reducing reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels in retinal cells and alleviating oxidative stress and correlated damage.

Perception of obesity and weight-loss attitudes among adolescents living with obesity, caregivers, and healthcare professionals in Taiwan: Data from the ACTION Teens survey study.

Background: The ACTION Teens study (NCT05013359) surveyed adolescents living with obesity (ALwO), caregivers (CGs) of ALwO, and healthcare professionals (HCPs) of ALwO, to identify behaviors, perceptions, attitudes, and barriers to effective obesity care. The goal was to generate insights to help improve obesity management for ALwO, both globally and locally. Here, we discuss insufficient management of adolescent obesity in Taiwan.

Single-cell transcriptomes reveal spatiotemporal heat stress response in pearl millet leaves.

With the intensification of global warming, there is an urgent need to develop crops with enhanced heat tolerance. Pearl millet, as a typical C4 heat-tolerant crop, has mechanisms of heat tolerance at the cellular level which remain unclear. Constructed single-cell transcriptomic landscape of pearl millet leaves under heat stress and normal conditions, comprising 20 589 high-quality cells classified into five cell types.

Phase Separation Pathways of Chiral Macromolecules at Liquid-Liquid Interfaces.

The phase behavior of chiral macromolecules is one of the key subjects in chemistry, biology, and materials science. Here we take poly(L-lactic acid) (PLLA) and mesomeric poly(D, L-lactic acid) (mPLA) mixtures as a model system and investigate the phase separation behaviors in double emulsion droplets. At high mPLA compositions, phase separation creates transient bicontinuous networks or discrete domains at the liquid-liquid interface and eventually generates eyeball-like microcapsules.

Chemodynamic Therapy Enhanced I-Radiotherapy for Efficient Inhibition on Cancer Growth and Metastasis.

Iodine-131 (I), a cornerstone of thyroid cancer therapy, suffers from limited efficacy in other cancers due to poor tumor accumulation and hypoxia-driven radiotherapy resistance. To overcome these challenges, I-M@HI, a theranostic nanoparticle was engineered that synergizes radiotherapy with chemodynamic therapy (CDT). This platform integrated Mn(III) porphyrin and indocyanine green self-assembled on albumin, enabling dual-mode fluorescence/MRI-guided imaging, tumor/sentinel lymph node-targeted accumulation, and hypoxia modulation.

Molecular Engineering of 2D Organic-Inorganic Hybrid Perovskites for Room-Temperature Warm-White Light Phosphorescence.

Developing room-temperature phosphorescence (RTP) in organic-inorganic hybrid perovskites (OIHPs) with color tunability is an attractive topic for investigating how the coupling between organic and inorganic components affects spin-orbital effects and triplet state energy transfer. We demonstrate that the modulation of organic spacer cations in the OIHPs can effectively realize tunable white-light RTP. By gradually substituting the 2-phenylethylamine (PEA) cations in (PEA)PbBr with naphthalene-type organic cations (-naphthyl methylamine, NMA), triplet excitons can be extracted from the inorganic part and transferred to the organic part to produce a tunable RTP.

Alternative splicing fine-tunes prey shift of Coccinellini lady beetles to non-target insect.

Background: Coccinellini lady beetles have been applied as biological control agent of aphids, however, not all of these species are obligately aphidophagous. Thus, a comprehensive understanding of the molecular mechanisms behind predaceous specificity of Coccinellini lady beetles can provide important clues for evaluating their performance and ecological risk assessment in biological control. Post-transcriptional regulations act a key role in shaping organisms' rapid adaptation to changing environment, yet, little is known about their role in the acclimation of Coccinellini lady beetles to non-target preys.